Bracelet

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a bracelet.

[0002] The term "bracelet", when used in this specification, is not limited to a wrist bracelet but is intended to include bracelets such as ring or belt bracelets which may be worn on other parts of the body, such as the ankle, a finger or even around the waist. Furthermore, such bracelets need not be solely for human use but could be worn by animals, e.g. as collars, or, if desired, attached to inanimate objects.

[0003] A known bracelet which displays information is a digital watch, having a watch face with a liquid crystal display. Typically, the watch face has at least four conventional seven-segment numerical display elements so that the time can be displayed digitally using the standard 24 hour clock notation.

[0004] The watch will usually have additional functions such as an alarm, a stop-watch, etc. and so a solid state chip/integrated circuit is included to implement these functions together with a quartz crystal to keep time and a battery for powering the watch.

[0005] In DE-A-3 813 409 (Osterhage) there is disclosed a wrist watch with a multi-digital display, consisting of a continuous chain of individual bracelet links, each bracelet link being constructed as a digital display, controlled by a piezoelectric control circuit which provides a multi-digit display which is pulsed from bracelet link to bracelet link so that the digital display pulses in time around the bracelet. Thus the prior art discloses a bracelet having electronic display units having a display region comprising a plurality of display elements, each display element being capable of displaying a character so that the display elements together can display characters, in the display region; the display elements being arranged in a sequence lying along the length of the bracelet; control means being provided to control the display elements so that the characters displayed by the display elements in the display region appear to move along the sequence of display elements with time.

[0006] In accordance with the present invention there is provided a bracelet having at least one electronic display unit arranged to display information in a sequence extending along substantially the full length of the bracelet and/or in a sequence lying substantially around the total perimeter of a face of the bracelet; wherein control means are provided to control the display unit or units so that the information displayed appears to move along the length of the bracelet and/or around the face of the bracelet with time; and wherein the display unit or units has or have a plurality of segments such as to be selectively energisable by the control means to display shapes or figures which are other than numeric or alphabetical arrangements.

[0007] In one embodiment, the bracelet has a single display unit extending along the length of the bracelet.

[0008] Preferably, the single unit has a plurality of display elements each comprising a lattice of liquid crystal or LED segments. The liquid crystal or LED segments may be selectively energised to display one of a plurality of different characters. The liquid crystal or LED segments are arranged, and may be selectively energised, to display, in addition, numerical and/or alphabetical characters.

[0009] It will be appreciated that in some embodiments of the invention abstract characters and shapes can be formed by the display elements to give the appearance of a moving pattern.

[0010] The control means may be a solid state chip/integrated circuit which can control the display elements to display information in the form of characters. The solid state chip may control the display elements so that the characters displayed appear to move along the sequence of display elements in the display region, element by element, with time.

[0011] The display region can be divided into a plurality of sub-regions each comprising a plurality of display elements forming a portion of the sequence of display elements. It is then possible for the display elements to display information simultaneously within each sub-region and the control means may control the display elements such that the information displayed in each sub-region appears to move, preferably element by element, from a first end of said respective portion of said sequence of display elements to a second end of said respective portion of said sequence of display elements with time.

[0012] In another embodiment, the bracelet comprises a plurality of electronic display units each having a predetermined number of display elements. The display elements of the display units together form a display region, each display element being capable of displaying a character of one or more characters so that the display elements together can display information, in the form of said characters, in the display region. The display units are arranged so that collectively their display elements form a sequence lying along the length of the bracelet. The display units are preferably arranged in groups of at least three adjacent units, each group forming a sub-region of said display region so that the display elements can display information simultaneously within each sub-region. Said control means is provided to control the display elements to display characters such that the characters are displayed in each group of display units, firstly, in the first unit of the group of display units, secondly in the second unit of the group of display units and thirdly in a third unit of the group of display units so that the characters appear to move, within the sub-region of said display region, with time.

[0013] Further preferred and advantageous features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying claims.

[0014] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a bracelet forming a first construction which may be adapted to form an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the bracelet of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a bracelet forming a second construction which may be adapted to form an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 4a is an enlarged plan view of a part of the liquid crystal display of the bracelet of Figure 3, and Figure 4b is a plan view of a corresponding part of an alternative liquid crystal display for the bracelet of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a side view of a bracelet forming a third construction which may be adapted to form an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the bracelet of Figure 5;

Figures 7 to 10 show plan views of various liquid crystal display elements which can be used in a bracelet embodying the present invention;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a bracelet forming a fourth construction which may be adapted to form an embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 12a, b and c are side views of the bracelet of Figure 11 lying flat, in an intermediate position, before being fastened and in a final position fastened for use, respectively;

Figure 13 is a perspective view of a bracelet forming a fifth construction which may be adapted to form an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 14 is a perspective view of a bracelet forming a sixth construction which may be adapted to form an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 15 is a perspective view of a bracelet forming a seventh construction which may be adapted to form an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 16 is a perspective view of a bracelet forming a eighth construction which may be adapted to form an embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 17a, b and c are plan views of alternative arrangements of display elements for use with the bracelet of Figure 16, and which may be adapted to form an embodiment of the invention;

Figures 18a, b and c show plan view of a "dot matrix" liquid crystal display element displaying different shapes and figures, and which may be adapted to form an embodiment of the invention; and

Figures 19a, b and c are perspective views of a bracelet forming a ninth construction which is an embodiment of the present invention, each view showing the display at successive moments in time.

[0015] Figures 1 and 2 show a bracelet 1 forming a first construction which may be adapted to embody the invention so as to display shapes or figures-such as animals or characters which might move, as will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to Figures 7 to 10 and 19a, b and c. The bracelet 1 comprises a strap 3 carrying a plurality of digital electronic display units 5. It will be understood, however, that the display units could be made integral with the strap.

[0016] The display units 5 can conveniently be of any conventional type used for watches, calculators, or the like. In this way, the bracelet can be manufactured cheaply by using "off-the-shelf" parts. In the illustrated embodiment, conventional watch units are used. Such units 5 are individually housed in cases 7 and each has a compartment for a battery to provide power to the unit, a quartz crystal for time keeping, and control chip/integrated circuit to control the display unit. (It will be appreciated that all units could be powered by a single battery, and a single quartz crystal and/or control chip could be employed for all the units.) Each unit 5 has a liquid crystal display (LCD) 9 comprising a sequence of four display elements 11 (the sequence being arranged to lie, in a line, along the length of the bracelet) which are controlled by the control chip.

[0017] In this construction, the liquid crystal display 9 of each unit 5 has only four display elements11, but it will be appreciated that the LCD could include more than four display elements.

[0018] The display elements 11 of the display units 5 together form a display region of the bracelet.

[0019] Each display element 11 has a conventional arrangement of seven liquid crystal segments which can be selectively energised to display any single numerical character from 0 to 9. Thus, the units can be used to display numerical information up to four figures, such as the time in 24 hour clock notation.

[0020] The units 5 are arranged in groups (labelled A, B, C, D, E) of 3 units, each group forming a sub-region of the display region. The units 5 can, if required, each be individually set to the correct time. However, in the illustrated embodiment, the bracelet 1 is provided with an integrated circuit 15 which controls all units so that each unit can be programmed with the same time simultaneously. It will be appreciated that each group of units 5 could be programmed independently of the other groups, so that different times could be displayed by each group, for example, to show the time in different time zones.

[0021] Each sub-region of the display region displays characters simultaneously with the other sub-regions. Thus, characters are displayed at regular intervals along the bracelet and so viewing is possible from a number of different angles.

[0022] Each group (A, B, C, D, E) of units comprises three display units a, b and c. Each of the three display units 5 has an integrated circuit/chip or other control circuit which switches the LCD display 9 on and off intermittently and, in particular, the LCD display 9 is switched on for a period of one second every three seconds in time.

[0023] Integrated circuit 15 synchronises the three units 5 in the groups so that only one unit 5 in a group (A, B, C, D, E) is displaying at any one time. The units 5 are synchronised so that the left-hand unit a of the three displays information, the time in numerical characters, say, for a first second, the middle unit, b, displays the time for the next second and the right-hand unit, c, displays the time in the following (i.e. third) second. This cycle of displaying the time successively on each unit, is then repeated so that in a fourth second the left-hand unit, a, displays the time again and so on.

[0024] It will be appreciated that if the individual display units 5 were independently programmed with the time, they could also be independently programmed to switch their LCD displays on and off to synchronise the display of the time as set out above so that synchronising integrated circuit 15 would not be necessary.

[0025] The result is that, in use, the switching on and off of the display units gives the appearance of a continuous movement of the information (i.e. the time) within the sub-region along the length of the bracelet.

[0026] It will be appreciated that the direction of movement of the information could be reversed to travel from right to left.

[0027] It will be appreciated that more than three units can be used in each group so that the information displayed will be spaced further apart. It will also be appreciated that the speed and duration of switching the LCD of each unit on and off can be varied to change the look and manner of the movement of information along the bracelet.

[0028] However, the use of three units in each group has the advantage that the time is displayed frequently on the face of any one unit which is being viewed so that the need for the wearer to turn his wrist to see the time displayed is eliminated.

[0029] Figure 3 shows a second construction which may be adapted to form an embodiment of the present invention. Features corresponding to those described in the first construction are given like reference numerals. In this construction the bracelet 1 has a single display unit 5 incorporating an LCD 9 extending along substantially the full length of the bracelet. The display unit 5 is, in this construction, integral with the strap 3.

[0030] The LCD 9 provides a display region and comprises a large number of adjacent display elements 11 for displaying information in a sequence along the length of the bracelet. As shown in Figure 4a, each element is an alphanumeric display element comprising thirteen liquid crystal segments arranged in a lattice so that the segments can be selectively energised to display any numeral from 0 to 9 and any letter from A to Z. Alternatively, each element could comprise a sixteen segment alphanumeric display element as shown in Figure 4b which can similarly display any numeral from 0 to 9 and any letter from A to Z. Thus, the bracelet 1 can be used to display information other than simply the time. The information could be stored as messages and such messages could be preprogrammed into memory and read out and displayed by a controlling integrated circuit/chip 15.

[0031] It is envisaged that the bracelet could also or alternatively be programmed by the user by downloading information from an electronic personal organiser or personal computer into the memory of the bracelet. Methods of doing this are known in the art and will not be described herein.

[0032] The bracelet might also include a receiver for receiving data, transmitted in the form of electromagnetic radiation such as radio waves, which could be programmed into the memory and subsequently displayed by the bracelet. Thus, the bracelet could be used as a pager or to display the latest travel information or sports results.

[0033] The control chip/integrated circuit 15 of the bracelet 1 according to this second construction, can be used to energise the display elements 11 of the LCD 9 to display a message, for instance, "THE TIME IS 1752". The chip/integrated circuit 15 can also control the LCD to move the message by changing the energisation of individual display elements with time. In the same way as with the first construction, control of the switching of the display elements 11 can give the appearance of a moving message. However, in the second construction, it is preferred to move the message on, one element at a time, so that the movement is more fluent. Additionally, the message can be moved along virtually the whole length of LCD, which effectively extends along whole length of the bracelet 1, instead of being moved within a sub-region of the LCD.

[0034] It will be appreciated that a message which is longer than the length of the LCD 9 can be displayed by virtue of the movement of the information across the display, although there will always be a part of the message (at the beginning or the end) which is not visible on the LCD.

[0035] It will further be appreciated that the bracelet of the second construction of the invention will have a quartz crystal for time-keeping, and may include the usual alarm functions of a watch. Furthermore, an alarm function can be used to trigger a message for the wearer, such as a reminder of an appointment, etc.

[0036] This construction can be utilised for many purposes. For instance, a bracelet could be used in hospitals to store details of a patient's identity, their relevant medicine, etc. The bracelet could also be used by children to give personal information. Alternatively, the bracelet could be simply used as an item of jewellery.

[0037] Figures 5 and 6 show a third construction which may be adapted to form an embodiment of the present invention. In this construction, which is similar to the second construction, the strap 3 of the bracelet is continuous by virtue of the use of a conventional catch 17 and hinge 19 arrangement. This enables the liquid crystal display 9 to extend around the total length of the bracelet so that a moving message will appear to circulate (or cycle) continuously around the bracelet.

[0038] Further features, and the operation, of the third construction are the same as that of the second construction and so the reader is referred to the description of the second construction.

[0039] Figures 11 and 12 shows a fourth construction which may be adapted to form an embodiment of the present invention. In this construction the bracelet 1 has a flexible fabric "wrap-around" strap 3 which carries a display unit 5 incorporating an LCD 9 extending along its length. The LCD 9 forms a display region and has a sequence of adjacent alphanumeric display elements 11 for displaying characters, and is controlled by a control chip (not shown).

[0040] The strap 3 has hook 31 and loop 33 Velcro® fastening pads on opposite sides of respective ends to enable the strap to be adjustably fastened around the wrist of a user.

[0041] Characters can be displayed and moved along the length of the bracelet under the control of a control chip in the same manner as described in respect of previous constructions.

[0042] Since the strap of the bracelet of this construction is a "wrap-around" strap, a portion 27 of one end of the strap will overlap a portion 29 of the other end of the strap. As a consequence of the overlap, some of the display elements 11 at the right hand end of the bracelet may not be visible, the number depending upon the size of wrist of the user. In Figure 12b four display elements (WXYZ) are hidden.

[0043] In order to avoid part of the message being obscured by the overlap of the strap, and in order to maintain a continuous movement of the message around the bracelet, the hidden display elements are not utilised. Thus, if the control chip moves a displayed message from left to right, when the right-most letter or numeral of the message reaches the last display element (V) before the hidden elements, it will skip the hidden elements (WXYZ) and restart the message at the first display element (A). In this way continuity of movement of the message is maintained.

[0044] In order to achieve this, the user must program into the control chip the identity (location) of those display elements which are overlapped when the bracelet is fastened on his wrist. Alternatively, the bracelet could be fitted with one or more sensors to detect which display elements are overlapped and to automatically program the control chip accordingly.

[0045] Figure 13 shows a fifth construction which may be adapted to form an embodiment of the present invention which is a variation of the second embodiment. In this arrangement the bracelet 1 is a watch bracelet and has a conventional analog watch face 35 and the LCD 9 runs along the length of the bracelet across the watch face 35.

[0046] Figure 14 shows a sixth construction which may be adapted to form an embodiment of the present invention. This construction is similar to that shown in Figure 13 except that the LCD 9 does not run across the analog display face 35. Accordingly, in this construction, a circulating message will be controlled to give the appearance of the message "jumping" from one side of the analog watch face 35 to the other.

[0047] Figure 15 shows a seventh construction which may be adapted to form an embodiment of the present invention. In this construction, the bracelet 1 is a watch having a conventional strap 3. The face 35 of the watch has an analog display 37 at its centre which is surrounded by an LCD 9 extending in a closed loop around the perimeter of the face 35.

[0048] The LCD 9 comprises a sequence of alphanumeric display elements 11 which are arranged in a sequence lying around the perimeter of the watch face, so that characters can be displayed around the central analog display 37.

[0049] Additionally. the characters displayed on the LCD can be controlled by a control chip (not shown) to give the appearance of movement around the perimeter of the watch face in the same way as a message appears to move along the length of the bracelet in the previously described embodiments. In this way, a message can be displayed which has more characters than the number of display elements on the watch face.

[0050] Figures 16 and 17 show an eighth construction which may be adapted to form an embodiment of the present invention. This construction utilises a more complex LCD arrangement by combining the features of the sixth construction with the features of the seventh construction. Thus, the bracelet 1 has a circular face 35 and an LCD 9 comprising (as shown in Figure 17a) a first sequence 9a of alphanumeric display elements 11, extending along the length of the bracelet and a second sequence 9b of alphanumeric display elements extending in a closed loop around the perimeter of the face. At a first interface 51 between the first sequence 9a and the second sequence 9b there is an overlap of four display elements (4,5,28,29) as shown in Figure 17a. Similarly at a second interface there is an overlap of a further four display elements (16,17,40,41).

[0051] A control chip can accordingly "move" characters, which typically form a message, in a path along the length of the bracelet, then smoothly onto the face 35 utilising the appropriate display elements (4 & 5) at the interface, around the perimeter of the face and then smoothly off the face and along the length of the bracelet again, as shown by the directional arrows illustrated in Figures 16 and 17. The direction of movement can be from left to right or right to left along the bracelet and can be clockwise or anticlockwise around the perimeter of the face of the bracelet.

[0052] It will be appreciated that just a part of the sequence of display elements around the perimeter of the watch face could be used to display the message. Thus, for instance, the message could be moved along the bracelet from left to right around the top or bottom semicircle of the watch face.

[0053] In an alternative arrangement of display elements, the second sequence 9b of the display elements has the additional sequence of display elements 9c shown in Figure 17c which underlie display elements numbered 5 to 16 in Figure 17b. These elements are utilised when the message has completed a circle around the perimeter of the face. This allows a longer message to be displayed because two parts of a message do not "share" the same display elements, as would otherwise be the case, which would result in a conflict in what is displayed on those elements.

[0054] It will be appreciated that the watch face need not be circular but could be rectangular or oval. Furthermore, the LCD need not extend around the total perimeter of the face but could form an open loop so that the beginning and end of a message is clearly visible.

[0055] It will be appreciated that various modifications can be made to the described embodiments. For instance, the bracelet could employ suitable displays other than the described segmental LCD display elements, for example segmental LED display elements could be used. Furthermore, the LCD display unit or units can have display elements other than the numeric seven-segment or alphanumeric thirteen or sixteen-segment arrangements. An example is a "dot matrix" type display element having twenty five liquid crystal cells arranged in a rectangular matrix (see Figure 18a which shows all the cells energised). The cells can be selectively energised to display many different shapes and figures as shown in Figures 18b and c, as well as letters from the Greek or Russian alphabets. Chinese characters, etc. In the claims the term "segment" is intended to encompass the "cells" of such a dot-matrix display element.

[0056] In accordance with embodiments of the invention the display elements could also display shapes or figures such as animals or characters which might move. Examples of these are shown in Figures 7 to 10.

[0057] In particular, Figure 7 shows display elements with liquid crystal segments arranged to form the shape of a dinosaur. Figure 7a shows a first position of the dinosaur and Figure 7b shows a second position of the dinosaur. It will be understood that the energising of successive elements alternately in the first and second positions will give the impression of movement of the dinosaur. Figure 7c shows the crystal segments common to the two positions of the dinosaur in Figure 7a and Figure 7b. Figure 7d shows in dotted lines the additional segments required to enable the display element to show the dinosaur in both the first and second positions, and Figure 7e shows all the crystal segments required to form the shape of the dinosaur in both positions.

[0058] Figures 8, 9 and 10 show how moving figures (in this case an ant-like creature) can be formed by using the conventional thirteen-segment alphanumeric crystal arrangement together with an additional LCD lattice arrangement of crystal segments.

[0059] The additional lattice can underlie or overlie the thirteen-segment alphanumeric LCD lattice. The number and arrangement of the segments in the additional lattice (shown in Figure 8c) can be varied, and its position relative to the alphanumeric display (shown in Figure 8b) can also be varied to alter the shape of the creature (e.g. to give it short legs rather than long legs).

[0060] By using the conventional alphanumeric lattice, a message can be moved along the bracelet and, if the creature is displayed by a display element immediately after the left most letter or numeral of the message is displayed by that display element, the creature can appear to be chasing the message as it moves along the LCD of the bracelet. Similarly, if the creature is displayed immediately before the right most letter or numeral of the message, the message will appear to be chasing the creature.

[0061] Figure 19 shows a ninth construction which is an embodiment of the present invention having a plurality of display units 5 similar to those of the first embodiment. Each display unit 5 has two overlapping lattices of liquid crystal segments. One lattice comprises four, seven-segment numerical display elements as in the first embodiment and the other lattice comprises a dinosaur lattice of two possible configurations, as shown in Figure 7e. The display units 5 display the time, the dinosaur in a first configuration and the dinosaur in the other configuration alternately to give the impression of movement. Thus, Figures 19a, b and c show the characters displayed on the bracelet at successive moments in time.

[0062] It would be possible to incorporate different colour lighting units with each display unit 5 so that one colour is associated with each type of character displayed. For example, a blue light could be lit when the time is displayed, a red light when the dinosaur is displayed in the first configuration and an orange light with the dinosaur in the other configuration. Thus light patterns could be produced which move along the bracelet with time.

[0063] Various modifications may be made to the described embodiments and it is intended to include all such variations and modifications as fall within the scope of the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A bracelet having:

at least one electronic display unit (5) arranged to display information in a sequence extending along substantially the full length of the bracelet (1) and/or in a sequence lying substantially around the total perimeter of a face (35) of the bracelet;

   wherein control means are provided to control the display unit or units (5) so that the information displayed appears to move along the length of the bracelet (1) and/or around the face (35) of the bracelet with time; and
   wherein the display unit or units (5) has or have a plurality of segments such as to be selectively energisable by the control means to display shapes or figures which are other than numeric or alphabetical arrangements.

2. A bracelet according to Claim 1, wherein the control means (15) and the segments are arranged to display shapes or figures which give the impression of movement.

3. A bracelet according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the control means (15) and the segments are arranged to display animals or characters which move.

4. A bracelet according to any preceding claim wherein the segments are selectively energisable to display numerical and/or alphabetical characters, as well as said shapes or figures which are other than numeric or alphabetical arrangements.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the bracelet (1) is a wrist bracelet.

6. A bracelet according to any preceding claim wherein the display unit (5) has a dot-matrix type display having cells arranged in a rectangular matrix.

7. A bracelet as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the display unit (5) has a plurality of display elements formed from independently controllable liquid crystal segments.

8. A bracelet as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the bracelet has a plurality of display units (5).

9. A bracelet according to any preceding claim, wherein the control means (15) is adapted to display a message of a length greater than the electronic display unit or units.

10. A bracelet according to any preceding claim wherein the control means (15) comprises an integrated circuit.

11. A bracelet according to any preceding claim, further comprising memory means to store information including shapes or figures other than numeric or alphabetical arrangements for display on the display unit or units.

12. A bracelet according to any preceding claim, wherein the bracelet (1) includes a receiver for receiving messages transmitted in the form of electromagnetic radiation to be displayed on said at least one display unit (5).

13. A bracelet according to Claim 12, in which the bracelet (1) is a pager.

14. A bracelet according to any preceding claim, including a programming device allowing the control device (15) to be programmed by the user by downloading messages from a computer apparatus into the memory of the bracelet (1).

Ansprüche

1. Armband mit:

mindestens einer elektronischen Anzeigeeinheit (5), die so ausgebildet ist, dass sie Informationen in einer Sequenz anzeigt, die sich im wesentlichen entlang der gesamten Länge des Armbands (1) erstreckt und/oder in einer Sequenz, die im wesentlichen um den gesamten Umfang einer Fläche (35) des Armbands liegt;

   wobei Steuereinrichtungen vorgesehen sind, um die Anzeigeeinheit oder Anzeigeeinheiten (5) zu steuern, so dass die angezeigten Informationen sich mit der Zeit entlang der Länge des Armbands (1) und/oder um die Fläche (35) des Armbands herum zu bewegen scheinen; und
   wobei die Anzeigeeinheit oder Anzeigeeinheiten (5) eine Mehrzahl von Segmenten hat/haben, so dass sie selektiv von der Steuereinrichtung mit Energie versorgbar ist/sind, um Formen oder Figuren anzuzeigen, die nicht numerische oder alphabetische Anordnungen sind.

2. Armband nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Steuereinrichtung (15) und die Segmente so angeordnet sind, dass sie Formen oder Figuren anzeigen, die den Eindruck einer Bewegung geben.

3. Armband nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei die Steuereinrichtung (15) und die Segmente so angeordnet sind, dass sie sich bewegende Tiere oder Zeichen anzeigen.

4. Armband nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Segmente selektiv anregbar sind, um numerische und/oder alphabetische Zeichen anzuzeigen, sowie die genannten Formen oder Figuren, die nicht numerische oder alphabetische Anordnungen sind.

5. Vorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei das Armband (1) ein Handgelenkarmband ist.

6. Armband nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Anzeigeeinheit (5) eine Anzeige der Art einer Punktmatrix hat, mit Zellen, die in einer rechteckigen Matrix angeordnet sind.

7. Armband nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, wobei die Anzeigeeinheit (5) eine Mehrzahl von Anzeigeelementen hat, die aus unabhängig steuerbaren Flüssigkristallsegmenten gebildet sind.

8. Armband nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei das Armband eine Mehrzahl von Anzeigeeinheiten (5) hat.

9. Armband nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Steuereinrichtung (15) zum Anzeigen einer Nachricht von einer Länge, die größer ist als die elektronische Anzeigeeinheit/Anzeigeeinheiten, ausgebildet ist.

10. Armband nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Steuereinrichtung (15) eine integrierte Schaltung aufweist.

11. Armband nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, welches weiterhin eine Speichereinrichtung aufweist, um Informationen einschließlich Formen oder Figuren, die nicht numerische oder alphabetische Anordnungen sind, für eine Anzeige an der Anzeigeeinheit/Anzeigeeinheiten zu speichern.

12. Armband nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei das Armband (1) einen Empfänger beinhaltet zum Empfangen von Nachrichten, die in Form von elektromagnetischer Strahlung übertragen werden, und an der mindestens einen Anzeigeeinheit (5) angezeigt werden sollen.

13. Armband nach Anspruch 12, wobei das Armband (1) ein Pager ist.

14. Armband nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, das eine Programmiervorrichtung beinhaltet, die eine Programmierung der Steuervorrichtung (15) durch den Benutzer durch Herunterladen von Nachrichten von einem Computergerät in den Speicher des Armbands (1) ermöglicht.

Revendications

1. Un bracelet, comprenant :

au moins une unité d'affichage électronique (5), agencée pour afficher de l'information, en une séquence, s'étendant pratiquement sur la totalité de la longueur du bracelet (1) et/ou en une séquence située sensiblement autour de la totalité du périmètre d'une face (35) du bracelet ;

   dans lequel des moyens de commande sont prévus, pour commander l'unité ou les unités d'affichage (5), de manière que l'information affichée apparaisse se déplacer sur la longueur du bracelet (1) et/ou autour de la face (35) du bracelet, en fonction du temps ; et
   dans lequel l'unité ou les unités d'affichage (5) comprend ou comprennent une pluralité de segments devant être activables sélectivement par les moyens de commande, dans le but d'afficher des formes ou des figures autres que des agencements numériques ou alphabétiques.

2. Un bracelet selon la revendication 1, dans lequel les moyens de commande (15) et les segments sont agencés pour afficher des formes ou des figures, donnant l'impression d'un mouvement.

3. Un bracelet selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel les moyens de commande (15) et les segments sont agencés pour afficher des animaux ou des caractères qui se déplacent.

4. Un bracelet selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel les segments sont activables sélectivement pour afficher des caractères numériques et/ou alphabétiques ainsi que lesdites formes ou figures qui sont autres que des agencements numériques ou alphabétiques.

5. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le bracelet (1) est un bracelet de poignet.

6. Un bracelet selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel l'unité d'affichage (5) présente un affichage de type à matrice de points, comprenant des cellules agencées en une matrice de forme rectangulaire.

7. Un bracelet selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, dans lequel l'unité d'affichage (5) comprend une pluralité d'éléments d'affichage formés à partir de segments de cristaux liquides pouvant être commandés indépendamment.

8. Un bracelet selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le bracelet comprend une pluralité d'unités d'affichage (5).

9. Un bracelet selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel les moyens de commande (15) sont adaptés pour afficher un message d'une longueur supérieure à celle de la ou des unités d'affichage électroniques.

10. Un bracelet selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel les moyens de commande (15) comprennent un circuit intégré.

11. Un bracelet selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant en outre des moyens de mémoire, prévus pour stocker de l'information, incluant des formes et des figures autres que des agencements numériques ou alphabétiques devant être affichés sur la ou les unités d'affichage.

12. Un bracelet selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le bracelet (1) comprend un récepteur devant recevoir des messages transmis, ayant la forme d'un rayonnement électromagnétique à afficher sur ladite au moins une unité d'affichage (5).

13. Un bracelet selon la revendication 12, dans lequel le bracelet (1) est un récepteur d'appel ou de recherche de personne.

14. Un bracelet selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant- un dispositif de programmation, permettant au dispositif de commande (15) d'être programmé par l'utilisateur, par déchargement de messages depuis un ordinateur, dans la mémoire du bracelet (1 ).

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